System and method for alcohol monitor based on driver status

• US 8,847,770 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Schondorf, Steven Yellin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US12/536,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/5.6, 180/272, 701/45
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for performing an alcohol monitor in a vehicle based on a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The apparatus comprises an electronic device that is positioned within the vehicle. The electronic device is configured to receive a driver status signal indicating that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver. The electronic device is further configured to receive an alcohol content measurement from an alcohol monitoring device (AMD) indicative of blood alcohol content for the secondary driver. The electronic device is further configured to compare the alcohol content measurement to a predetermined alcohol content.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing an alcohol monitor in a vehicle based on a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic device positioned within the vehicle and being configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being the secondary driver;

store a time window interval as established by the primary driver, the time window interval corresponding to a fixed period of time in which the secondary driver is required to provide the alcohol content measurement with the AMD;

receive an alcohol content measurement within the time window interval and prior to driving the vehicle from an alcohol monitoring device (AMD) indicative of blood alcohol content for the secondary driver;

compare the alcohol content measurement to a predetermined alcohol content for the secondary driver; and

transmit a first signal to an entertainment device to disable an operation of transmitting at least one of an audio signal and a video signal for the secondary driver prior to receiving the alcohol measurement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit a limit signal in response to receiving the alcohol content measurement such that the vehicle can be driven, the limit signal corresponding to a command to control the vehicle to operate at a non-zero safe speed limit that is less than a predetermined vehicle speed if the alcohol content measurement is greater than the predetermined alcohol content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive an ignition switch status signal indicative of the secondary driver attempting to drive the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electronic device is further configured to generate a first time value corresponding to the time of day in which the ignition switch status signal is received and to determine whether the first time value is within the time window interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electronic device is further configured to alert the secondary driver to provide the alcohol content measurement if the first time value is within the time window interval.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to wirelessly transmit a notification from the vehicle to a first device positioned outside of the vehicle to notify the primary driver in the event the alcohol content measurement exceeds the predetermined alcohol content.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit a second signal for providing a wireless notification to the primary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further configured to control the entertainment device to disable providing the audio signal for the secondary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

9. An apparatus for performing an alcohol monitor in a vehicle based on a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver, the apparatus comprising:

an interface device configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being the secondary driver;

notify the secondary driver to provide an alcohol content measurement;

transmit a first signal to an entertainment device to disable an operation of providing one of an audio signal and a video signal for the secondary driver prior to providing the alcohol content measurement; and

compare the alcohol content measurement to a predetermined alcohol content.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the interface device is further configured to store a time window interval that corresponds to a fixed period of time in which the secondary driver provides the alcohol content measurement.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the interface device is further configured to receive the alcohol content measurement within the time window interval and prior to driving the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the interface device is further configured to transmit the first signal in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the interface device is further configured to transmit a second signal for providing a wireless notification to the primary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the interface device is further configured to control the entertainment device to disable providing the one of the audio signal and the video signal for the secondary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the interface device is further configured to transmit a limit signal corresponding to a command to control the vehicle to operate at a non-zero safe speed value that is less than a predetermined vehicle speed if the alcohol content measurement is greater than the predetermined amount.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle interface device configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of a driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

notify the secondary driver to provide an alcohol content measurement;

transmit a first signal to an entertainment device to disable providing an audio signal for the secondary driver prior to providing the alcohol content measurement; and

compare the alcohol content measurement to a predetermined alcohol content.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vehicle interface device is further configured to transmit a second signal for providing a wireless notification to the primary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vehicle interface device is further configured to control the entertainment device to disable providing the audio signal for the secondary driver in the event the secondary driver fails to provide the alcohol content measurement within a predetermined time frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vehicle interface device is further configured to transmit a limit signal corresponding to a command to control a vehicle to operate at a non-zero safe speed value that is less than a predetermined vehicle speed if the alcohol content measurement is greater than the predetermined amount.